On Thursday, thousands of Trick-o-Treaters and their parents, grandparents, and more will invade the streets and sidewalks across the community.  And if you’re a homeowner of the 639 properties listed for sale this morning in the MLS for Bowling Green/Warren County, you may be still trying to prepare for Halloween.  Whether you normally decorate or not, this year is different because your home is on the market.  Why?  Because anything you do or don’t to your property leaves an impression with potential Buyers. And what better day to check out a neighborhood or a property in a neighborhood of interest than on Halloween?  So here are ten last minute reminders for homeowners trying to sell their home on Halloween.

#1 – Do I have to decorate?

First, there’s no hard rule that you must decorate and celebrate Halloween.  While decorating your front porch can be a terrific way to add some great curb appeal, there’s no need to spend a lot of time and money to decorate just because you’re trying to sell your home. But if you normally enjoy decorating, just remember the goal is to highlight your property and not your decorations. I always ask my Sellers if they plan to decorate and then offer suggestions that are specific to them and will help promote the best presentation of their property to potential Buyers.

#2 – Take List Photos before you decorate!

Great listing pictures are a must, which is why I include a professional photo package with all my listings. I want plenty of superior quality, timeless photos that showcase the best features of your home and appeal to as many Buyers as possible. And no matter how nice or elaborate, holiday and seasonal décor can quickly become a distraction or date a property’s time on the market.  It’s best to stick to your staging plan and plan to decorate after the photoshoot.

#3 – Stay within your neighborhood’s spirit of Halloween

If your home is in an HOA or well-defined subdivision, of course you want your property to stand out from the others.  The trick is to stay within the spirit of your neighborhood.  If you live in a neighborhood that rarely sees a Trick-or-Treater and has few neighbors who decorate for Halloween, then Halloween presents a spooktacular opportunity to add nice curb appeal.

But if you live in a neighborhood like Briarwood Manor’s infamous Pumpkin Alley and all your neighbors go all out to welcome hundreds of Trick-or-Treaters in couple of hours every year, then you may feel pressure to do a bit more.  I recommend putting up only what you can take down in one to two days after Halloween AND won’t compete with a Buyer’s ability to see your house. So that huge, cool blow-up Frankenstein might be better in your new yard next year…

#4 – No blood, gore and creepy!

What’s most important to remember is you want your home to look and feel welcome, safe, and comfortable to all potential Buyers. Whether they’re driving by or touring, it’s best to avoid all things blood, gore and creepy. Leave the bloody doors and murder scenes – and screams and props that make people jump – in storage this year.

#5 – Limit yard signs to For Sale

Halloween is always close to election day, so homeowners who usually put up campaign signs in their yard may want to reconsider when trying to sell their home. Why? Because the goal is to appeal to as many Buyers as possible so they will want to tour and buy your home.  I recommend my Sellers stick to the staging plan and allow only one sign in the yard while on the market:  Home For Sale.

#6 – Avoid cluttered look

If you have prepared and staged your home properly to sell, you know it takes a lot of time and effort to keep it that way.  So once your list photos are completed, adding a few, friendly Halloween items in key areas like the foyer, family room and kitchen can add warmth and coziness.  Just stick to your general staging plan and avoid cluttering your counters and shelves.

#7 – Keep it fresh & Budget friendly

Whatever you decide to do, keep it fresh and budget friendly.  Staying within your budget is important when you’re selling, so I recommend mixing neutral fall items that play well with Halloween so you can just add and remove items quickly once the holiday is over.  Mixing mums in bright fall colors with pumpkins can be beautifully spooktacular IF (and only if) you can commit to watering them faithfully every day. They come in assorted sizes and usually in yellow, orange, red, white, and purple. If not, just add two to three pumpkins of different shapes and maybe a colorful fall or Halloween wreath on the door for a pop of color.

Either way, check them daily.  Items can fade quickly on a porch that gets a lot of sun while items in the shade can grow mold, droop, or even develop a nasty odor.  I recommend decorating the front porch no more than three to four weeks before Halloween, keeping a close eye on the weather and adjusting as needed to keep things fresh and inviting.

#8 – Check for safety

Take a quick walk through your property and remove any items that may get in the way or cause someone to trip or get in the way.  Inside or out, make sure all walkways are clear of cords, rug edges are secure, and pumpkins, Jack-o-Lanterns and décor items are well out of the way, especially on front porch steps and sidewalks.

Candles are a great way to set a season mood but shouldn’t be left unattended. If using, be careful to avoid strong scents that may overpower someone and make a potential buyer leave.  Stick to light, clean scents like “autumn leaves” or maybe “fall festival.”  And keep candles – and lit (friendly!) Jack-or-Lanterns! – on level surfaces away from items that can catch fire.

#9 – Be ready to provide info and make connections safely

Safety and marketing your property in the best possible light should always be a priority when listing your home for sale to the public. So unless your Realtor® is planning to be on hand to provide private tours, I recommend Sellers stick to the showing plan when their home is on the market.  Sellers who want to be home to hand out candy can instruct their Realtor® to block out that time on the showing schedule and process requests as usual.  Your Realtor® can provide extra copies of flyers to share with anyone who asks about your home while handing out candy.  Be friendly, of course, and have a notepad and pen handy to get their name and contact info so you can pass it along to your Realtor® first chance you get.

But if they’re going to be elsewhere on Halloween, allowing Buyers to tour with an agent can be a wonderful opportunity to market their property.  Just add a nice bowl of Halloween candy or plate of fresh cookies to your usual property info display before heading out.

#10 – Clean and reset

Once the Trick-or-Treaters are officially retired for evening, quickly remove, and store any item specific to Halloween.  Sweep your front porch and clean the front door to remove all fingerprints left by ghouls and goblins. Uncarved pumpkins and mums always make a great pairing, so downsizing to just those can be just enough to set a pretty tone through Thanksgiving.  Just keep checking them to make sure they stay fresh.

Have fun, stay safe and enjoy a Happy Halloween!

I hope this list is helpful and wish you success with the sale of your home! And if you’re thinking of selling your home, I’d love the opportunity to talk with you.  I always provide a detailed plan and hands on staging guidance for all my Sellers so their home is ready for potential Buyers no matter the day or occasion.  Just reach out to me at  270.791.4072 or dawnlong@sckyrealestate.com to get started.

Oh yes! Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy a Happy Halloween!